The following is a timeline of important events from the historical setting and in the life of Edmund Rice.

1757Edmund Rice's grandfather, also named Edmund, bequeathed his land in Westcourt, Callan to his son Robert (Edmund's father)Robert Rice married Margaret Murphy (nee Tierney) a widow with two daughters, Jane and Joan.

1762Edmund Rice was born in Westcourt, Callan, Co. Kilkenny - 1st June.Attended local hedge school in Callan. He was educated in part by Friar Patrick Grace, later went to the local city, Kilkenny, to continue his education.

1779When he was about 17 he moved to Waterford to begins an apprenticeship with his uncle, Michael Rice, who was a victualler and ship's chandler in that city.

1789Edmund's wife died at Ballybricken while giving birth to a daughter, also named Mary. She was born prematurely and was handicapped. Edmund moved to Arundel Place to be nearer his business and be able to take care of his young daughter.Around the same time he joins a group of young Catholic men who gathered for prayer and outreach to the poor.

1791Edmund subscribed to buy a copy of the new Douay Bible which was being printed. A year later he noted 11 Scripture references on the flyleaf of his bible.

1792Edmund's brother John decided to join the Augustinian Friars in New Ross. Edmund encouraged him and sponsored him. The next year John went to the novitiate in Rome.

1793Several important events happened in Edmund's life around this time and he began to dream of ways of helping the poor:- He shared a hotel room with a friar and began to think of his own vocation, possibly as a Augustinian friar like his brother John- He was encouraged by a female friend to do something for the poor boys on the quays of Waterford city that he was bumping into every day as he went about his business- He consulted with Bishop Lanigan of Kilkenny who encouraged him saying that "the idea proceeded from God" and he decided to dedicate his life to the education of the poor of Waterford- He was one of the people who founded The Distressed Roomkeepers Society for poor servants in Waterford.He still had to take care of his daughter and in 1795 his uncle Michael died and left him in charge of the family business.

1796Edmund wrote to Pope Pius VI about his "design" and the Pope encouraged him to proceed with it

1798Three of Nano Nagle's Presentation Sisters arrived in Waterford. Edmund assists the sisters in establishing a convent, leasing land on Henessy's Road for their convent and organising public collections to raise funds for the new building.Later the same year, with Dean Hearn and others, he founded the Trinitarian Orphan Society near New Street.

18001800 was Edmund's most successful year in business because of a wartime boom. Edmund began teaching street children by night after work in his house in Barronstrand Street, eventually deciding to sell his business and dedicate his life to educating them. Unpaid volunteers came to help him in those early days.The money he raised from selling his company allowed him to create a fund to take care of his teenage daughter and she moved to her uncle Richard's house in Callan.

1802Edmund is joined by Thomas Grosvenor and Patrick Finn. The three men created a little community over a stable in New Street, now being used as a school. He was aged 40.

1803A purpose built monastery and school opens in Ballybricken, Waterford which was named "Mount Sion". They moved in to the unfinished house on June 7th, though it was only officially blessed by Bishop Power the following year.A bakery to provide bread for breakfast, and a tailor's workshop to provide proper clothes for the students, were also built at the time.

1806First Foundation outside Waterford - in Carrick on Suir, Co. Tipperary (Paid for by John O'Brien, who himself became a Brother aged 62).

1807A third foundation at Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.

1808Edmund and eight companions take five vows on August 15th as members of the Society of the Presentation. They were to become known as "Gentlemen of the Presentation". A Chapter was held in Mount Sion and Edmund was appointed Superior.

1811Foundation in Cork (by Brothers O'Connell and Leonard).

1812A "Rice school" was established in Dublin at Bishop Murray's request. (The community included Br. Thomas Grosvenor).

1816Brothers arrive in Limerick and Thurles (Cahill brothers).Archbishop Murray (Dublin), returning from Rome through France "learned of a Society called Brothers of the Christian Schools; procured a copy of their Rules and Constitutions" Later a copy of Pope Benedict XIII's Bull (1724) was translated from French and a copy sent to each community so hte Brothers could discuss this possibility.

1817Brothers reorganise into a Pontifical Congregation, i.e. with a Superior General of their own and no longer under the organisational authority of the local bishop.

1820The Papal permission, called a "Brief" and named in Latin "Ad Pastoralis Dignitatis" was issued on September 5th and brought from Rome to Ireland by Fr. Kenney. A translated copy was sent to each community. In August 1821 the Brothers gathered in Thurles to discuss their future and 17 of them signed their acceptance of the Brief.

1822After an assembly of Brothers in Waterford in January, the Brothers professed vows on the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. The reorganisation plan was accepted and a new Congregation, the Congregation of Christian Brothers was formed. Edmund Rice became the first Superior General of the new Pontifical Congregation. On June 1st that year he was 60 years old.The Brothers in Cork, led by Austin Riordan, continued as a Diocesan Congregation and continued to be known as the Presentation Brothers.

1825First school opened in England, at Preston in Lancashire. More schools follow in Manchester, Liverpool, Sunderland and London.

1828Edmund moves Headquarters from Waterford to the new O'Connells Schools in Dublin.

1829Catholic Emancipation Act results in a repeal of the anti-Catholic Penal Laws.

1832Cholera outbreak in Ireland results in some schools being used as temporary hospitals.

1838Edmund Rice resigned as Superior General and retired to Mount Sion. Paul Riordan was elected as second Superior General.

1840Edmund Rice makes a farewell tour of the Irish Schools and Brothers Communities.

1841Edmund became seriously ill. A General Chapter was held that year at which he was refused participation.

1844Edmund died at Mount Sion, Waterford on 29th August, aged 82.

1961The "Cause" for Edmund's Beatification is introduced in the Archdiocese of Dublin.

1979Edmund's Cause is transferred to Rome.

1993Pope John Paul II bestows the title "Venerable" on Edmund Rice and declares him to be a man of "heroic virtue".